New Perspectives on Ezra-Nehemiah

New Perspectives on Ezra–Nehemiah offers a range of fresh, current views among scholars on the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah (traditionally, “Ezra”). These books focus on two short periods in the history of Judah in the Persian era: one recounts the events from the Cyrus Decree in 538 B.C.E. until the inauguration of the Second Temple in 515 B.C.E.; the other relates the acts of the Judean spiritual and political leaders, Ezra and Nehemiah, roughly two generations later, under the rule of Artaxerxes I, king of Persia. Ezra/Ezra–Nehemiah certainly remains the most significant written source for the study of the religious, social, and political aspects of Judah (and to some extent Samaria) in the Persian age, even in light of other biblical prophetical, literary, and historical writings from the Persian period (for example, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Chronicles, and Esther) and enlightening archaeological and epigraphical finds (for example, Elephantine and Wadi-Dalia papyri, short inscriptions, coins, seals, and bullae). Ezra–Nehemiah also presents unique instances of the literary genre memoir, late biblical historiography, and late Hebrew language.

The editor hopes that the original studies gathered in this volume will lead to a better understanding of issues in Ezra/Ezra–Nehemiah and will stimulate further research on this enthralling late biblical-historical writing.

“A well-rounded treatment of several aspects of current research.”—Hannah K. Harrington, Journal of the American Oriental Society

In the Persian Period: New Perspectives on Ezra–Nehemiah Isaac Kalimi

Part 1. History and Historiography

Ezra’s Use of Documents in the Context of Hellenistic Rules of Rhetoric Lisbeth S. Fried

What Was Nehemiah Up To? Looking for Models for Nehemiah’s Polity Lester L. Grabbe

Nehemiah: Subject of the Empire, Subject of Writing Don Polaski

Nehemiah as a “Court Jew” Klaas A. D. Smelik

Nehemiah 3: Sources, Composition and Purpose Oded Lipschits

On Nehemiah’s City-Wall and the Size of Jerusalem during the Persian Period: An Archaeologist’s View David Ussishkin

The Real History: The Theological Ideas behind Nehemiah’s Wall Manfred Oeming

Some Issues in Ezra–Nehemiah Ran Zadok

Part 2. Text, Literature, and Interpretation

Hidden Treasure: The Unpublished Doublet Catchwords in Ezra–Nehemiah David Marcus

Where Did the Judahites, Benjaminites, and Levites Settle? Revisiting the Text of Nehemiah 11:25–36 MT and LXX Deirdre N. Fulton

The Census List in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7: A Suggestion Paul L. Redditt

Nehemiah’s Request on Behalf of Jerusalem Joseph Fleishman

Prayer as Rhetoric in the Book of Nehemiah Mark J. Boda

Index of Authors

Index of Scripture